Larry Hopper v. Oshkosh B'Gosh And State of Tennessee, Department of Labor, Division of Workers' Compensation, Second Injury Fund

**What Happened** Larry Hopper was an employee at Oshkosh B'Gosh who had previously settled a workers' compensation claim. Later, he filed a motion asking the court to reconsider that settlement, likely because he felt the original settlement wasn't fair or adequate. The case also involved Tennessee's Department of Labor and the Second Injury Fund, which handles certain workers' compensation claims. **What the Court Decided** The Tennessee Supreme Court ruled against Hopper. The court found that his request to reconsider the workers' compensation settlement came too late - it was filed after the legal deadline (statute of limitations) had passed. The court also determined that the trial court didn't have the proper authority (jurisdiction) to grant a reconsideration of the settlement in the first place. **Why This Matters for Workers** This case highlights the importance of timing in workers' compensation matters. Once you settle a workers' compensation claim, there are strict deadlines for challenging that settlement. Workers need to act quickly if they believe their settlement was unfair, as waiting too long can permanently close the door on any chance to revisit the agreement. It's crucial to understand these time limits before finalizing any workers' compensation settlement.